The goal of the FIMUR Program is to help address housing needs for Aboriginal people in Ontario living off-reserve, designed and delivered based on community engagement processes. Don McBain, Executive Director of OAHS comments, "This announcement provides great opportunity for the eight experienced urban Aboriginal housing providers to reduce current waiting lists for applicants over the long term while stimulating the economy in their respective communities through new construction and building rehabilitation."

Proponent submissions were evaluated by an independent Proposal Review Committee who reported their recommendations to the OAHS Board of Directors for final review and approval. The Board has approved the following proposals:

The Rental Housing component (approximately $51M for approximately 360
units) is a one-time capital program that includes new construction,
acquisition of existing vacant residential or non-residential buildings
for repair or conversion to affordable rental housing, and new
supportive and transitional housing.
The Homeownership Assistance component (approximately $6M for
approximately 200 households) is a forgivable loan which provides down-
payment assistance to families, who are currently renting, and would
like to purchase a home or homeowners who are no longer entitled to
reside in their residence. The loans are interest free and forgivable
after five years if the homeowner remains in the home.

Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS) has been allocated $60M for outside of the GTA.

Funding is 100% capital and flowed from a federally funded Off-Reserve Aboriginal Housing Trust, of which Ontario received $80M.

About Ontario Aboriginal Housing Services (OAHS)

OAHS is a Corporation without share capital that is mandated to:

- provide housing and repair programs with a specific focus on the
Aboriginal community, to be delivered cost-effectively;
- provide central policy/program administration and develop training
for Aboriginal Housing provider groups;
- undertake responsibility for matters related to socially assisted,
culturally appropriate off-reserve housing; and
- utilize the talent, skills and experience of the Aboriginal community
to the greatest extent possible in the allocation, delivery,
construction and long term management of programs.

The OAHS Board is comprised of representatives appointed by Métis Nation of Ontario, Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres, and Ontario Native Women's Association.

For more information on OAHS or the FIMUR Program, including both Homeownership and Rental Components, please visit us online at http://www.OntarioAboriginalHousing.ca, call 1-866-391-1061, or write to: